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Last month Charlotte McKay, a year 12 photography student entered the Didcot to Oxford Railway 175th Anniversary Photography Competition. From over 350 entries Charlotte placed 1st in the adult category which is a brilliant achievement. A large print of her picture can be seen the entrance hall of St Birinus, outside reception. Below is a statement about her inspiration.

“My inspiration and thought process for this photo was to show people entering and leaving the station at different stages of each process such as checking the timetable, scanning their ticket, and walking to the gates. I wanted to capture a different aspect of the station, as the ticket office is where people first see a new place at the end of a corridor, is a sign that they are home, or the last part of a visited place they see. As someone who lives in Didcot, and regularly travels between the Didcot and Oxford line, this photo shows a familiar sight. I feel this photo reflects the commuter town history of Didcot.

When taking the photo, I waited and positioned myself so to have the woman walking directly down the middle of the corridor. This gives the photo an aspect of symmetry. As well as this there is an element of reflection, with the light coming through the gate, projecting shadows across the floor and ceiling.

When editing I wanted to make the photo black and white so to just focus of the subjects in the photo, as well as the aspects of symmetry and reflection. I also increased the contrast so to create a silhouette effect of the woman in the foreground, and people in the background.”

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Didcot Girls' School is an academy managed by Ridgeway Education Trust, which is an exempt charity and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales with registered company number 8104201 and its registered address at Didcot Girls' School, Manor Crescent, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 7AJ. Our VAT registration number is 138 0055 37.